ASTI - Ireland's main second level teachers union

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The ASTI supports the call by Engineers Ireland for further investment in maths in our schools. 

ASTI General Secretary John White said today: “Mathematical literacy is part of a full human education. In addition, a high standard of mathematical literacy in Ireland is fundamental to the development of Ireland’s smart economy”.

Mr White added that key facts about maths in our schools must have a bearing on any discussion on improving the teaching and learning of maths, including:

• The most recent OECD PISA study of 15 year olds across 57 countries shows that Ireland performed at the OECD average in maths, ranking 16^th out of 30 OECD countries and 22^nd out of 57 countries.
• While participation in higher level maths needs to be improved, students who sit higher level maths exams at Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate do well (e.g. in the 2009 Leaving Certificate Examination 48% of higher level maths students received an A or B grade and 80% received an A,B, or C grade).
• Only 40% of higher level Leaving Certificate maths students choose science, technology, engineering or maths courses at third level.

“These facts raise a number of issues which need to be examined such as why a significant proportion of higher level mathematics students, the majority of whom have performed well in maths, do not choose maths and science related courses at third level,” said Mr White.  

The ASTI understands that the Minister for Education and Science proposes that that a ‘high level group’ examines issues relating to mathematics – including a proposal to award bonus points in maths. “The ASTI looks forward to contributing to this group,” said Mr White. 

Mr White concluded by saying that the ASTI would be happy to discuss with Engineers Ireland the teaching of mathematics in our schools and issues relating to the retraining of unemployed engineers as teachers.